A motorcyclist fell into a sinkhole that opened up on a residential street in southeast London – but apparently escaped without serious injury after trying to “jump” it at the last moment.
Locals said the road on Martens Avenue in Bexleyheath started to crack and collapsed at around 9pm on Tuesday.
Video showed the motorcycle still in the hole, and Darren – who chose not to give his full name – said the rider had a “lucky escape”.
“It happened just outside my house and no one was injured as far as I am aware, thankfully, but the individual on the bike got away with a lucky escape,” he said.
“He left the scene before the emergency services arrived.
“It has been pretty exciting but also scary as we have been informed that we might have to be evacuated if things progress.”
Mark Joynes, 38, told KentOnline he spotted the seven-metre chasm as he turned into the road, but the motorcyclist wasn’t so lucky.
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“Obviously he didn’t see the hole. He tried to jump it, but the bike ended up in the hole. The guy then ran away,” he said.
Liam Edwards, 25, said there was a “massive thud” when the road fell in.
“I saw there was a motorbike inside it and I spoke to one of the neighbours right by it and (he said) he had moved his van just five minutes prior otherwise that would have also been in the hole,” he said.
“Nobody was hurt, although it was a scary experience for the ones living opposite it.”
The road remained shut to vehicles and pedestrians on Tuesday, and locals said Thames Water staff were on the scene.
A sinkhole is normally created by erosion caused by frequent exposure to water.
